Qui-Gon joins the Clone Wars

Qui-Gon Jinn in The Clone Wars

EW.com has just released an exlusive clip from an upcoming episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that features Liam Neeson (Yes, you read that right! Liam Neeson!) reprising his role as Qui-Gon Jinn! He appears to Obi-Wan as a force apparition, apparently only visible because of the amplification of the Force in the specific area they are in. Seems like they’re pretty much taking the deleted scene from Episode II and putting it in the show! Here’s what EW.com had to say about it:

From EW.com

Liam Neeson is returning to that Galaxy Far, Far Away. EW has learned exclusively that the actor will reprise his Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace role as doomed Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn on Cartoon Network’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Jan. 28 and again on Feb. 11. He’ll be voicing Qui-Gon, who appears to Obi-Wan Kenobi in visions, in a three-part arc about his former protégé Anakin Skywalker’s destiny as the Chosen One.

Though The Clone Wars has featured a number of high-profile guest-stars, including Seth Green, George Takei, Michael York, Ron Perlman, Clancy Brown, and director Jon Favreau, Neeson is by far the biggest name yet attached to the series (airing Friday nights at 8:30 pm ET). Considering the backlash against The Phantom Menace, and Neeson’s string of post-Star Wars critical and box-office hits, to voice a character on TheClone Wars might seem to be an unexpected — and even brave — move. But his connection to the saga runs deeper. Neeson tells EW he wanted to return to Star Wars because he felt that “these characters resonate…even after all these years.” He adds, “Growing up, my heroes were cowboys; they were strong and mysterious, and it seemed like they always rode off into the sunset. For kids today, Star Wars has that same kind of magic. I really wanted to be a part of that.” And he still is.

Head over to EW.com to check out the exclusive clip, and let us know what you think of this awesome development in the Clone Wars series!